On This Night in Sports

“In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.” –Francis Bacon

There is no better way to describe the history that occurred on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. As one team broke the milestone created 20 years ago, another ended an era that began at the same time.

There has never been a time over the last 20 years that has had such an impact on sports such as this night in sports. The entire world witnessed a team break a milestone no one ever believed possible, and another player left his impact on the sports world for a lifetime. History isn’t the word to describe the type of night that was on display. In the life of most people reading this, there will never be a night in sports that compares to what we all witnessed on April 13^th.

Few things have been certain over the last 20 years. One, the Chicago Bulls 1995-1996 team is the best NBA team to ever live. Two, Kobe Bryant is the most hated player in basketball, because no matter what he will show up and make you doubt him. It’s impossible to say that neither of these are true anymore, but sadly, both eras have officially come to an end.

If you missed it, the Bulls 72-10 record has been broken by the Golden State Warriors and Kobe Bryant has officially hung up his jersey for the last time.

The hardest part about all this is not knowing whether to be happy that you were able to witnessed this historic day, or sad that you witness 20 years of certainty come to a close.

It’s not all negative though. The Golden State Warriors have now become a part of NBA history and on the same night, Kobe Bryant ended his career the best way he possibly could have. When are you able to say you sat and watched the most historically packed sports night of your life? A night that truly soars above the rest? That is what happened and it happened far beyond its expectations.

No one believed that Kobe Bryant would score 60 points in his final game. The belief that his body that has broken down all season was capable of performing that well one more time was magical. And on the back burner of it all, the Warriors broke the single season win record. A record owned by arguably the greatest sports organization to ever live is broken and it is on the back burner of a sports night? You fully understand that something special happened on this night just by reading that.

There aren’t enough words to describe how absolutely surreal the night of April 13^th was. Trying to sit down and describe how the team you loved three months ago have now succeeded beyond your approval, breaking a record of this measure while the biggest icon of your generation leaves his career on such an extraordinary note is nearly impossible. Whether you love, hate, or hate to love Kobe or the Warriors, you cannot deny how incredible this night was.

Yes, there will be the people who cannot accept greatness changing; that is something that will never end. And I truly feel bad for those people. Because being able to sit on your couch and watch the world change forever was a moment you will never forget. Sitting there with chills running down your spine and yells coming when Kobe scored 60 points. Being able to watch Stephen Curry break the record for most 3-pointers in a single season. Seeing the reaction of the Warriors as they won their 73^rd game. These are moments the world will never be able to witness again. So, being able to watch them with a smile on your face is a moment in your life you will remember forever.

Things like the Bulls record was meant to be broken and Kobe Bryant was meant to one day walk off the court one last time with every basketball fan in the world clapping. Yes, things do change. That isn’t a bad thing though. Why leave the same door open your entire life when you can explore others? The end of the Bulls record and Kobe’s career is a blue realization, but it’s also the beginning of new greatness. Maybe it isn’t today, but eventually new greatness will arise, it’s part of sports.

For the fans, nothing but pure enjoyment surrounds us. Of course, there is sadness that Kobe Bryant will never wear a Lakers jersey again. But even that has a good feeling, knowing the way he was able to leave.

“It was the perfect ending to his career.” –Stephen Curry.

So as one team wakes up celebrating the greatest achievement of their career, another player wakes up knowing that he has stepped foot on the floor he has called home for the past 20 years for the last time.

On this day, Wednesday April 13, 2016, history truly was made. And although an era came to an end, there’s a feeling of joy that us as fans, commentators, and your average Joe all witnessed the end of something incredible to open the door for something that we all hope impacts our lives as much as the last 20 years have.

“As you walk off the court everything is in slow motion. You just have to take it all in one last time.” –Kobe Bryant.